Herald of the Stars: Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven

85 days after our attack on the Excipio Stations I have a personal meeting with one of the recovered Lathe Tech-Priests. I am browsing the Xenos Librarium when they arrive. Nothing says ‘I have more authority than you’ to a Tech-Priest than a Library of proscribed knowledge.

Artisan Laisren Toolin has proposed miniaturising our mechanical Gellar Fields into a cybernetic to improve on our Warding Electoos or, at the very least, finding a way to fit them to all our vehicles and Void Craft, not just void ships. Lasiren has a few ideas on how to achieve this, but I was curious to see if any Xenos have achieved the same thing. 

We are uncertain if constantly running a Gellar Field will prevent corruption; Gellar Fields are most effective within the Warp. Null Rods are not practical for mass production as they require the bones of Blanks and the version we have is unpleasant for even regular Humans to use. 

However, Obsidian Depths, a system in the Gothic Sector, is covered by an Archeotech Gellar Field. It is near impossible to breach the Warp within the system without broadcasting the correct codes. If a field is so strong that one cannot breach the Warp within it, neither should the Dark Gods be able to unduly influence those with a personal Gellar Field from their domains in the Warp. If we didn’t have an Engineering STC for a mechanical Gellar Field this would be a lost cause. In theory, we have all the data required to make a personal Gellar Field possible. Practicals, however, remain distant.

The Aeldari have their Soul Stones, but they are quite different to a Gellar Field. Wraithbone appears to have natural warding properties and the Aeldari do have something similar to a Gellar Field, but I’ve no reference to what they call it or how it operates. Perhaps each vessel has a miniature Infinity Circuit and the living Aeldari are sheltered by the dead?

My stolen knowledge from the Drukhari does not cover void ship construction and neither did the training provided by Warlock Ylien.

I’ve no idea how the Necrontyr manage to ward against the Warp beyond the huge, Blackstone Obelisks that they build. The Orks rarely bother with robust Gellar Fields, or any at all, as a Daemonic assault is an excuse for a ‘gud fight’. The Tau are even more ignorant of the Warp than the average Imperial citizen. They are so psychically dull that I am uncertain if most Daemons can even observe them. Their FTL drives barely skim the Warp.

The man who strolls into the Xenos Librarium, at 1.55 metres, is the shortest Tech-Priest I have ever seen. He’s wearing a Stellar Fleet uniform with jacket, waistcoat, and trousers rather than Martian robes. All Stellar Fleet insignia have been replaced by a Cog Mechanicum over two power axes: the symbol of the Lathes. The symbol on his jacket covers his whole back and is detailed down to the millimetre.

The flesh around his eyes is swollen and inflamed. New optics gleam from his eye sockets, though they appear natural. His head has been shaved and has multiple nanite bandages stuck to it, as well as a net-like band, holding his skull together as an extra precaution. His skin has been replaced and warded. A single mechadendrite rises from his lower back, swinging an incense burner back and forth like a lantern trying to fend off the darkness.

“Arch-Magos Issengrund, I presume?”

I smile, “Just Magos. For now. Explorator, Trader, or Novator will do if you want to avoid confusion with other Magi.”

“I see you have mastered the art of the humble brag, Explorator Issengrund. I am Arch-Magos and Forge Master Vilem Warik Wahh of Lathe Hadd. My gratitude to you and the Stellar Fleet for tearing me from the cruel caress of the Great Enemy.”

“You are most welcome, Forge Master Wahh. I trust that the restoration of your body is to your liking?”

“I prefer not to cloak my true flesh. Your custom is odd for a Mechanicus fleet. I admit that I enjoy the snazzy clothes a more standard Human frame permits. They do not catch on everything like robes do.”

I shake Vilhelm’s hand, then point at an arm chair beside the fire, “Please take a seat, Arch-Magos.”

Vilhelm sits upright in the arm chair, letting his Mechadendrite hang over the back. The rising incense makes it look like his hair is on fire.

I say, “The Stellar Fleet believes in chasing the perfection of the Human form. It was good enough for His Sons, His Custodes, and His Angels. Who are we to argue on what the Omnissiah views as the ideal image? How can we persecute the Xeno without hesitation or doubt if we have cut away so much of ourselves that we have forgotten who we are?” 

Vilem says, “You are not the first I have met who hold such views. It is unorthodox, not heretical. I have always believed that Humanity comes from knowledge. It is our minds that define our species and its behaviour.”

“To be Human is to place an impossible goal before ourselves and grasp it with our hands,” I say. “It is ambition that defines us. The Aeldari flounder in decadence and depression. The Necrontyr sleep away the milennia, their glory forgotten. The Orks sprout from the earth with no more purpose than to create more chaos than the Ruinous Powers can manage on their most destructive of days. 

“No matter what other species I might name, their ambitions are flawed and beyond their means. That is why we rule the galaxy, where all others fail. Knowledge is a blessing and a tool. It is how you use it that matters.”

“Explorator Issengrund, as much as I would love to continue this debate, I asked to meet you to discuss what I learned during my captivity. I have knowledge on the plans of the Great Enemy. You’re the only person with sufficient authority to help me pass this on to Arch-Magos Castellar.”

“Then you’d best be convincing. I have many questions. I suggest that you start from the beginning. I am most curious as to how a Forge Master was captured and put to work by the Ruinous Powers for over a decade.”

Vilhelm nods, “I assumed as much. When the Chaos Armada invaded they attacked Sentanim from twelve directions. Three Excipio Stations surrendered almost immediately. The others held on for a few weeks, even after their defences were captured. It didn’t do them much good.

“Only one attempt was made to save a single station,” Vilhelm looks away. His eyes sweep over the books and he adopts a wistful expression. “We could not risk our monitor fleet as it is slow and would be swiftly outnumbered should it venture too far from the Inner Lathes. As such, the fastest vessels from the Merchant Navy and several Imperial Navy void ships that were undergoing their scheduled refit were hastily assembled to assault one of the sixteen Chaos fleets.

“The haphazard task force was moderately successful, chasing the Great Enemy away long enough to purge the station and rescue the few remaining loyalists. After that, the task force fled before they could achieve much else. Given how little was recovered, no further attempts were made.”

“Understandable,” I say.

Vilhelm purses his lips, “Arch-Magos Castellar was far more concerned about Cella, where most of the treasures of the Lathes are stored, than the Excipio Stations. He is a strong supporter of the Quest for Knowledge. To see the work of so many expeditions desecrated by the Ruinous Powers was a great insult to his authority and beliefs. 

“Lathe Hadd has been spurned by Het and Hesh for centuries. I’ve spent my whole career trying to erase its stigma and volunteered my resources to repel the invaders from Cella. In exchange, Arch-Magos Castellar agreed to assist me with my troubles, ones that we can discuss later if required.

“After much persuasion, I convinced Magos Hiscare and his elite legion of Crimson Guard to assist as well as Saint Dirk Hardpecker to -”

I clear my throat, “Could you confirm that name?”

Vilhelm’s face twists in disgust, “Saint Dirk Hardpecker... the Ogryn Saint of the Machine-God. I had much the same reaction when I found out.”

“Where is he now?”

“Dead or captured.”

If it wasn’t for my perfect body control I would not be able to appear serious. That name is ridiculous and the Mechanicus Saint is an Ogryn? That’s silly enough to bring a smile even to my face. 

“I see. Please continue.”

Vilhelm says, “I took a gamble and stripped Hadd of much of its defences, some two hundred million Skitarii Crimson Guard, PDF militia, tens of thousands of vehicles and so on. We spent a year refitting the Merchant Navy with every spare gun we could find, assembled our strike force, and set out for Cella. Assembling such a mighty force was hardly discrete. The Chaos Armada were ready for us with that ghastly Gloriana, Pride of the Emperor, and much more besides.”

“Fulgrim’s flagship?”

“Yes. I had the displeasure of meeting what little remains of the Emperor’s son. He came to gloat.”

I suspected that’s who we are facing and it is good to have it confirmed.

“How did the assault go?”, I say.

“We were able to make a single pass and deployed a mere five percent of our forces before our Fleet was forced to retreat. Saint Dirk was in the first wave. We had hoped the Crimson Guard would dig in and wait for reinforcements, perhaps restore the planet’s many defences, or take advantage of the many damaged vessels awaiting dissection. 

“Instead, Saint Dirk managed to activate the artefact or artifacts that triggered a Warp storm, cutting off all communication with the Imperium and our legions at Heterodyne Station in the Hazeroth sub-sector, flood the system with radiation, and increase the incidents of singularities around the Belts of Etiam. 

“Without proper radiation equipment, our fleet returned to the inner Lathes. We made two more attempts to dislodge Fulgrim from Cella, though these were more raids and blockade runs than a full assault. On the third I was captured when my flagship was boarded. Without me to lead the way, support for recapturing Cella dissolved. I do not know why. Lacking reinforcements, the resistance on Cella was defeated.”

“That is most irritating,” I say, “Letting Fulgrim gain a foothold in the system on a planet full of artifacts was unwise.”

Vilhelm frowns, “I quite agree and I am most frustrated by the lack of progress. Arch-Magos Castellar seems quite content to wait for the Chaos Armada to run out of resources. This, however, is no longer viable. I have since learned from my snooping that Fulgrim intends to use the partial Warp Gate to act as a focus to bring Het, Hesh, and Hadd into the Warp. Once there, the Daemons will make short work of us.”

“How confident are you in your information?”

“I have spent years infiltrating their systems and done much to organise a resistance between the Excipio Stations, work that has since gone up in smoke.” Vilhelm stares me in the eyes for a brief moment, then continues. “I have pieced together the factions within the Armada and within those communications are many other vital details. One of those includes Fulgrim’s general plans for the Lathes. Not only that, the Dark Mechanicum were arrogant enough to consult me on how to use the Jump Gate as a ritual focus. I refused.”

I do not believe for a moment that Vilhelm refused to help Fulgrim with his goal. He’s either hiding that he didn’t know anything about the Jump Gate and Sorcery or there is some other plot afoot. Maybe both. I agree that teleportation in the system is still lethal and that accessing the Warp is unusually difficult. Thus, what Fulgrim intends to do with a partial Warp Gate seems improbable at best.

“Fulgrim’s plans are what you wish me to transmit to Arch-Magos Castellar?” I say, keeping my doubts to myself.

“They are.”

I hum, “What level of presence do the Dark Mechanicum have in Sentanim?”

“You wish to ascertain how viable it is that they can complete their megaproject and corrupt the Jump Gate?” Vilhelm doesn’t wait for my answer and continues, “They have the labour. Much of my information came from good Lathe citizens in the Enemy’s work camps. There is a cabal of four sorcerers as well as some two dozen captured Psykers. The Dark Mechanicum is a third of their forces. The Hereteks are keen to seize all that we have built and are Fulgrim’s main backers.”

“That is most concerning,” I say. “I was hoping that they would have little technical and sorcerous support. The magnitude of our harassment operations will improve the longer it takes them to find us.”

“I would be more than happy to help you in this endeavour.”

I hide my sigh. I know that I wished for someone important to offset Abbisine’s influence. However, I do not trust Forge Master Wahh in the slightest. He was untainted by Chaos when we recovered him and in far better condition than every other Tech-Priest we rescued. He does not tremble, flinch, or constantly lower his head. He lacks the mannerisms of a man who has been beaten for a decade. He reeks of cooperation. 

On the other hand, snubbing a Forge Master in their own system is equally unwise. He was genuine when he said he was grateful for his rescue, but why he was pleased to be rescued remains in question. He has only offered words in thanks, not material support or other promises. If anything he appears ungrateful. The potential restriction or loss of Saint Dirk right at the beginning of the conflict is also suspicious.

It’s times like this when having Raphael about, even Lyre, would have been useful.

Perhaps I should throw out some wild statements and see how he reacts?